Stabilized 1,1,1-trichloroethane composition



"United States Patent 3,518,202 STABILIZED 1,1,1-TRICHLOROETHANE COMPOSITION Leighton S. McDonald, Angleton, Tex., assignor to The ice BRIEF ABSTRACT OF INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, 1,1,l-trichloroethane is stabilized by the addition thereto of a stabilizer system containing from about 2 to about 10% )ow (fjignliical Company, Midland, Miclh, a cn 'pflra- 5 by volume of 4,7-dihydro-1,3-dioxepin and from about ion 0 eaware 0.25 to about 2% of either or both nitrornethane and No Drawing- Fl le t c l c gag g 694,416 propargyl alcohol and from 0.25 to about 2% of a lower Us Cl 252 171 n 7 Claims alkylene oxide having from 3 to 5 carbon atoms which may also contain chlorine, particularly epichlorohydrin 10 or butylene oxide. A total concentration of from about ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE 2.5 to about 6 volume percent of such stabilizers has generally been found to be preferable. At concentrations 1,1,1-tr1chloroethane stabllized with mlnor amounts of below about 2 volume percent of the Stabilizer System, the eifectiveness of such stabilizer be ins to decrease I 4,7:d1hydr0l,fi-dloxeprMO-CHTO-CH2-CH:C rapidly. Concentrations in excess of 15% may be emm combination with nltrornethane and/ or propargyl alcoployed but n additional advantage is gained by em 1 hol and a lower alkylene oxide having from 3 to 5 carbon i h hi h concentrations atoms which may contain a chlorine atom. The invention Th compositions of hi invention are excellent 1- also relates to a process for preventing deterioration of vents, useful as carrier vehicles for other organic materials l,l,1-trichloroethane in contact with the metals aluminum, d as li id Solvents to remove oi], grease and the like Zinc, iron of pp or their alloys Which Comprises mainfrom metal parts. Such solvent compositions may be used iaihihg in intimate admiXtufe With Such F hot or cold in the presence of substantially any metal ethane and metals a stabilizing amount of y without any substantial amount of metal-induced solvent 1,3-dioxepin in combination with nitromethane and/or decomposition occurring. propargyl alcohol and a lower alkylene oxide. The stabilized 1,1,1-trichloroethane composition of this invention is easily recovered by distillation of the common expedient employed to remove impurities, after use as a T e pre ent inventi r lat s to a neW and s fu mcarrier vehicle or oil and grease solvent. The inhibitors position of matter and more particularly relates to a are recovered simultaneously with the 1,1,1-trichloro- Stabilized 1,1,1-il'iChi0r06thaI16 composition Suitable for ethane and the stabilized solvent is therefore usually availuse in contact with metals and to a process for degreasing able for reuse with little or no additional stabilizer needed. metals Such as aluminum, iron, pp Zinc and their The following examples are provided to further illusalloys. trate the invention but are not to be construed as limiting It is now well established that 1,1,1-trichloroethane is t h scope th f, a very useful and highly versatile industrial solvent. It EXAMPLE 1 is likewise well known that 1,1,1-trichloroethane is the most readily degradable of the chlorinated hydrocarbons A series of tests were run employing 65 ml. of uninwhen in contact with aluminum and that such degradation hibited 1,1,l-trichloroethane in an Erlenmeyer flask, into occurs whether the solvent is hot or cold and whether the 40 which was placed strips of 1100 aluminum, 24S aluminum, metal contact occurs in the vapor or liquid phases. It is 1010 steel, 70/30 brass, zinc, 2 /2 inches by A; inch, so further well known that the 1,1,l-trichloroethane stabias to expose /2 of each strip to the liquid and the other lized against the aluminum reaction is unstable in the /2 to the vapors. Various amounts of 4,7-dihydro-l,3- presence of zinc. In order for the art to enjoy the benefits dioxepin, propargyl alcohol and/ or butylene oxide were of this highly useful and versatile solvent, there is a conadded and the flask placed on a hot plate regulated to tinuing need to find substances which will stabilize 1,1,1- maintain the liquid at its boiling point. A reflux contrichloroethane in the presence of metals, particularly denser was fitted to the flask to condense the vapors and aluminum and zinc, return the condensate to the boiling liquid. The flasks and It is therefore an object of this invention to provide contents were maintained under reflux conditions on a a stabilized 1,1,1-trichloroethane composition. A further 24-hour basis, observations being made twice daily. The object of this invention is to provide a method whereby tests were terminated when the metals showed signs of 1,1,1-trichloroethane can be prevented from deteriorating reaction or the solvent discolored markedly. The results in the vapor phase when in contact with aluminum and of the various tests are set forth in tabular form in the zinc. A still further object of the present invention is to following table.

Percent by Volume Length 4,7-dihydro- Propargyl Butylene of Text 1,3-dioxepin Alcohol Oxide (I-Irs.) Remarks 4 1.0 0. 25 168 Solvent slightly discolored; no change in hours. 4 0. 5 1. 0 168 Zn 11348181323231 pin-point spots on surface below liquid; solvent straw colored; Zn coloration change 4 0.5 0.5 168 Zh has pin-point deposltsinliquid andvapor; lolflsteclhas streaks of discoloration, spotted slightly 4 0. 5 0. 25 168 sdihgiii h hlack coloration; Al has pin-point spots in section in vapor; clear after 24 hours. 4 0. 25 0. 5 168 Solvent has black coloration; 248 Al shows several black pin-points; OK. up to 24 hours, coloration change slight at 48 hours, slowly increasing.

provide a composition of matter useful in degreasing metals, particularly aluminum and zinc. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent on the reading of the following detailed specification.

To illustrate the efiicacy of the inhibitors of the present invention when employed in amounts within the scope of the present invention, a series of runs were made employing identical procedures as outlined in Example 1 employing various of the inhibitors alone and in combinaof nitromethane, propargyl alcohol and mixtures thereof and 0.25 to about 2% by volume of an agent selected from the group consisting of lower alkylene oxides hav- Perccnt by Volume Length 4,7-dihydro- Propargyl Butylene of Text 1,3-dioxepin Alcohol Oxide (Hrs) Remarks EXAMPLE 2 A series of tests were run employing 65 ml. of uninhibited 1,1,l-trichloroethane in an Erlenmeyer flask, into which was placed strips of No. 11 aluminum, 24S aluminum, 1010 steel, 70/30 brass, zinc, 2 /2 inches by /2 inch, so as to expose /2 of each strip to the liquid and the other /2 to the vapors. Various amounts of 4,7-dihydro- 1,3-dioxepin, nitromethane and/or butylene oxide were added and the flask placed on a hot plate regulated to maintain the liquid at its boiling point. A reflux condenser was fitted to the flask to condense the vapors and return the condensate to the boiling liquid, The flasks and contents were maintained under reflux conditions on a 24-hour basis, observations being made twice daily. The tests were terminated when the metals showed signs of reaction or the solvent discolored markedly. The results of the various tests are set forth in tabular form in the following table.

Aluminum strip completely disappeared in 72 hours. reaction started in vapor and once commenced moved into solvent liquid; solvent turned black; O.K. up to 48 hours.

Zn black: solvent black; all strips stained; Zn yellowedbrass spotted in 24 hours.

Al disappeared-reaction started in vapor; solvent black; all strips stained.

Al reacted before reflux temperature reached.

0 Al reacted before reflux temperature achieved.

Al reacted within 24 hours; solvent black.

ing from 3 to carbon atoms and epichlorohydrin.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the combined stabilizers are present in an amount of from about 2.5 to about 5 volume percent.

3. A method for preventing the deterioration of 1,1,1- trichloroethane in contact with metals comprising maintaining in intimate admixture with said 1,1,1-trichloroethane while in contact with said metals from about 2.0 to about by volume of 4,7-dihydro-l,3-dioxepin, 0.25 to about 2% by volume of a member selected from the group consisting of nitromethane, propargyl alcohol and mixtures thereof and from 0.25 to 1.0% of a lower alkylene oxide having from 3 to 5 carbon atoms.

4. A stabilized composition of 1,1,1-trichloroethane consisting essentially of 2% by volume 4,7 dihydro-1,3 dioxepin, 0.5% by volume nitromethane and 0.5 butylene oxide.

Percent by Volume Length 4,7-dihydro- N itro- Butylene of Test 1,3-dioxepin methane Oxide (Hrs Remarks 4 O. 1. 0 168 Slight discoloration of solvent and strips; no sign of deterioration of solvent or strips. 4 0. 25 0. 5 168 Do. 4 0. 25 0. 25 168 Slight discoloration of solvent and strips; Zn lost its brightness; no deterioration of solvent or strips. 4 0.5 0. 25 168 Slight discoloration of solvent and strips; no sign of deterioration of solvent or strips. 4 0. 5 1. 0 168 D0. 4 0. 5 O. 5 168 Do. 2 0. 5 0. 5 168 Do.

In a like manner, a test was run employing only 0.5% by volume nitromethane as the inhibitor. The aluminum reacted in the solvent before it was placed on the hot plate. In another test employing 4% of the dioxepin and 1% nitromethane, the solvent discolored to scale 10 on APHA scale, the strips were all stained during the 168- hour test.

It is to be understood that like results as above set forth in Examples 1 and 2 can be obtained by substituting for the 4,7-dihydro-l,3-dioxepin substituted dioxepins of the generic formula d-cnz-mcnz-cmcrrcag) wherein each R may be a lower alkylene radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or the two Rs may be joined together to form with the carbon atom of attachment a six-membered cyclic moiety of the cyclo aliphatic or phenyl configuration.

I claim:

1. A stabilized composition of 1,1,1-trichloroethane consisting essentially of from about 2.0 to about 10% by volume 4,7-dihydro-1,3 dioxepin, 0.25 to about 2% by volume of an agent selected from the group consisting UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1964 Hardies 252-17l 6/1967 Stack 252-171 MAYER WEINBLA'IT, Primary Examiner W. E. SCHULZ, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 252399; 260652.5 

